Cloudy with rain. Weather altogether unpleasant. I went to the Office after reading a portion of Horace. Got a couple of hours to read the American History besides going to the Athenaeum and calling on Mr. Lothrop. The work is in the latter part of it full of gross errors. 67The Writer had but a very indistinct idea of the operation of our system.

After dinner, was obliged to go down and attend a Meeting of the Directors of Boylston Market. No Quorum. Went over to the Insurance Office where I looked at the plan for widening the Street— The object of a Meeting to advise further expenditures. Decided to call one for Monday. Mr. Baldwin1 talked away for a couple of hours. He strikes me as a very unpleasant man to have any thing to do with. I do not like the whole business.

Returned and read a little of Botta. Evening quietly at home. Les Parvenus, and one Act of Twelfth Night. Afterwards Pompeii.

Fine morning. I went to the Office and was occupied there in reading the North American Review—All the principal Articles of which I went through with. On the whole I did not derive much profit from any of them. This work contains little of any value to any body. A few young men are admitted to try their unfledged wings, and the rest of the matter is supplied by old ones who have other views in life and therefore cannot write independently. My Office boy had run away with my History.

Did business with Mr. Degrand and bought of him shares of the Merchant’s bank to make up a round sum. This is on Agency Account. Walk and home to dinner.

I had intended to have gone to Quincy but from some cause or other felt unwilling to. Afternoon, Botta but did not read any German. Evening quietly at home. Les Parvenus and an act of Twelfth Night. Finished Pompeii.

Clear morning and fine day. I occupied part of yesterday Afternoon and this morning in pasting in the rest of the labels in my possession into my father’s books. It is now some years since I received them, and only now have I finished the work.1 Many books still remain without them.

I attended divine Service all day. Heard Mr. Frothingham. Morning from 1. Thessalonians 5. 19. “Quench not the spirit.” A view of the 68danger to a religious spirit in the three ages of youth, manhood and age. I did not catch the Text of the Afternoon’s though a better discourse.

Read Massillon. The book I now am upon is entitled Mysteries, being Sermons upon those Anniversaries which commemorate the supernatural and inexplicable incidents in the history of the Saviour. This discourse was upon the Incarnation. 1. Corinthians 2. 7–8. “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew.” Three characteristics he thinks are to be found in man. A disposition to judge of all things by the palpable distinctions of this world, which forms his pride. A reference of every feeling to the pleasures of the senses and an inclination to bring his reason up as the infallible and universal judge. These points he considers to be affected by the mystery of the Incarnation, first in the humility of the Saviour’s worldly situation, second, in the total disregard of all the objects of human desire, third, in the incomprehensible mystery of his birth. On this last point, there is some strong reasoning. Thus passed my day. Gardner Gorham passed the evening with us.